Alvin Lee

Born in Nottingham England, ALVIN LEE began playing
guitar age 13 and formed the core of the band Ten Years After by aged 15.
Originally influenced by his parent's collection of jazz and blues records, it
was the advent of rock and roll that truly sparked his interest and creativity,
and guitarists like Chuck Berry
and Scotty Moore provided his inspiration.

The Jaybirds, as Lee's early band was called, were popular locally and had
success in Hamburg, Germany, following the Beatles there in 1962. But it wasn't
until the band moved to London in 1966 and changed its name to TYA that
international success beckoned. The band secured a residency at the legendary
Marquee Club, and an invitation to the famous Windsor Jazz & Blues Festival in
1967 led to their first recording contract. The self titled debut album
surprisingly received play on San Francisco's underground radio stations and was
enthusiastically embraced by listeners, including concert promoter Bill Graham,
who invited the band to tour America for the first time in the summer of 1968.
Audiences were immediately taken Lee's distinctive, soulful, rapid fire guitar
playing and the band's innovative mix of blues, swing jazz and rock, and an
American love affair began. TYA would ultimately tour the USA 28 times in 7
years, more than any other U.K. band.

Appearing at the famed Woodstock Festival, Lee's virtuoso performance was one of
the highlights and remains today a standard for many other guitarists. Captured
on film in the documentary of the festival, his inspired playing catapulted him
into superstardom, and soon the band was playing arenas and stadiums around the
globe. Although Lee later lamented that he missed the intimacy of smaller
venues, there is no denying the impact the film made in bringing his music to a
worldwide audience.

TYA had great success, releasing ten albums together, but by 1973, Lee was
feeling limited by the band's style. With American gospel singer Mylon LeFevre
and a host of rock talents like George
Harrison, Steve Winwood, Ron Wood and Mick Fleetwood , he recorded and
released On The Road To Freedom, a highly acclaimed album that was at the
forefront of country rock. A year later, in response to a dare, Lee formed Alvin
Lee & Company to play a show the Rainbow in London and released it as a double
live album, In Flight. An energetic mix of rhythm & blues and rock, with a
tribute to
Elvis Presley thrown in for good measure, Lee once, in his understated
fashion, called this band "a funky little outfit". They were far more than that
and various members of the band continued on with Lee for his next two albums,
Pump Iron and Let it Rock. He finished out the 70s with a powerhouse trio he
called Ten Years Later who also released two albums, Ride On and Rocket Fuel,
and toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States.

The 80s brought another change in Lee's direction, with two albums that were
strong collaborations with Rarebird's Steve Gould and an extensive tour with the
Rolling Stones' Mick Taylor joining his band.

Lee's overall musical output includes more than 20 albums, including 1985's
Detroit Diesel and the back to back 90s collections of Zoom and 1994 (I Hear You
Rocking). Guest artists on both albums include George Harrison, whose brilliant
slide guitar perfectly complements Lee's lead. Their duet on 1994's The Bluest
Blues led one reviewer to call it "the most perfect blues song ever recorded."

Lee's newest album was recorded with rock and roll legends Scotty Moore and D.J.
Fontana. Titled "Alvin Lee in Tennessee", it's an upbeat selection of songs that
are timely and forward looking, yet borrow from his beloved 50s rock and roll.
There's even a new version of his signature song, I'm Going Home, performed
here, according to Lee "as it always should have been". With this CD and an
extensive U.K. tour, the legend of Alvin Lee continues.

(Excerpts and pics were assembled from internet and
personal resources.)